1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,479 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: This is the truth now that we are so we 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,200 Speaker 1: are so glad you're here today. If it is your 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: first time, come on, let's show all of our first 9 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: time visitors how much we appreciate them. God is so good. 10 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: I believe He brought you here at a strategic moment. 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: Our churches, I guess you could say we have a tradition. 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 1: I know they call us the non traditional church. We've 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: got people with purple hair, pink hair, and that's the 14 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: same lady, I'm talking about purple and pink hair on 15 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: the sides and the top. You look amazing. And when 16 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: they call us not traditional, what they mean by that 17 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: is that you can come in no matter if you 18 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: have any religious background or that we're not going to 19 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: just like confine God to the way that he moved, 20 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: you know, fifty years ago, and we're always going to 21 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: be seeking what God is doing now then, certainly we 22 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 1: are non traditional, but that being said, there are a 23 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: few things that are always appropriate, and so as we 24 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: welcome all of our family across all of our locations today, 25 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: I wanted to let you know that just like families 26 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: have traditions maybe around holidays and different special occasions, we 27 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,679 Speaker 1: have a tradition here at Elevation Church which is to 28 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: end each year with appreciation and anticipation at the same time. 29 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: And we've been doing this since twenty fourteen. And the 30 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: reason I said, I'm so glad if you're here for 31 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: the first time, because this is the absolute best time 32 00:01:57,160 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: that you could have picked. I don't know who drug 33 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: you here, or who drugged you and brought you here. 34 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: We've got some aggressive evangelists at Elevation Church, some unusual tactics, 35 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: but I was going to say that you are about 36 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: to see I believe it, you are about to see 37 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: faith in action over the next five weeks in a 38 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: way that is going to inspire you and bless you. 39 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: And the way we do it is each year we 40 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: select a word. I started this in twenty fourteen. Of 41 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 1: course the church is on our fourteenth year. But in 42 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen, the Lord led me to begin. I remember 43 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: sending chunks to text. I want to end the year 44 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: with the season of faith and expansion, and I want 45 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: to challenge the people to bring their best offering to 46 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: God at the end of the year, to commemorate what 47 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: He's done and to prepare for what He's going to do. 48 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: And the thing that's so unusual about it is this 49 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: is not a sad or stingy or weird time for us. 50 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: It's really a privilege. It's really a privilege. And through 51 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: the years, we've chosen different words. I remember one year 52 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: the word was I think the first year the word 53 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: was surround, and then we chose the word beyond, and 54 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,919 Speaker 1: then we chose the word fulfilled. I remember one year 55 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: we did waymaker. Last year we came around the word 56 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: game changer, and we just spent some time teaching around 57 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: this word. This year, the word that God has given 58 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: me is based on a song that we sang a 59 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: few minutes ago, and the word is available, available, and 60 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about that word together as a 61 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: movement as a global church body that God is. I 62 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: never see you as a crowd, I never do. I 63 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: see you as a living, breathing Advancing Church of Jesus Christ, 64 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: and so to take these moments over the next few 65 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: weeks and just ask God to increase how many want 66 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: God to increase your faith? Some of y'all raise your 67 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: hand a little slower because you know what He does 68 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: to increase your faith. He increases your need for faith. 69 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: So we're going to talk about that. And on your 70 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 1: way to your seat, before I get into the message today, 71 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: just ask the person next to you, not in like 72 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: a creepy swiping kind of way, but ask him are 73 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 1: you available? Amen, you may be seated. As I already said, 74 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: welcome to all of our locations, our EPAM around the world. 75 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: Come on, Valentine, let's welcome all of our locations and 76 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: our extended family joining us. Now. It's a beautiful scripture 77 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,600 Speaker 1: I want to show you today as we begin this 78 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 1: journey of faith over the next five weeks. Of course, 79 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: our teaching will culminate in an offering on December the 80 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 1: seventh and eighth. That weekend, thousands of people will bring 81 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,239 Speaker 1: their best offering. And really, the church is not built 82 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,679 Speaker 1: on special offerings, but people who consistently give to God, 83 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: just like kids aren't raised by uncles that show up 84 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:15,280 Speaker 1: on Christmas. Right, it's the daily, it's the discipline, and 85 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: so I thank God for each and every one of you. 86 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: But I want to show you a scripture today as 87 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 1: we begin this journey about being available to God. And 88 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: if I could give you a thesis for this series. 89 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: It goes back to a cliche I heard as a 90 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:32,280 Speaker 1: young man. And some cliches are corny, but they're still true. 91 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: And one man told me when I started walking with 92 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: the Lord, he said, it is not about your ability, 93 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: it's about your availability. I didn't know if he was 94 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: right when he said it, but I promise you I 95 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: am not one of these pastors who had a promising 96 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: career in the NBA but decided to serve God. I 97 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: was five foot eight and a half when God called me. 98 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: If you hear my early preaching tapes, not only did 99 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: I have the same little that I have right now 100 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: that comes through and pops through the microphone, they have 101 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 1: to get me a special thing on my mic because 102 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: is so strong, you know, and my Southern accent was 103 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: so deep that I think people outside of like four 104 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:18,119 Speaker 1: States had to have a translator. And I was speaking English. 105 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: But just what he said to me, I want to 106 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: show you today for your own life as well, that 107 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 1: it is never about our ability how much God uses 108 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: us to an extent, you know, like you definitely don't 109 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: need to move to Nashville and be a country singer 110 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: if your wife doesn't even like the way you sing. 111 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: So there is a talent factor that determines what we 112 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: do with our life. But at the same time, I 113 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: want to show you in Second Corinthians chapter nine, and 114 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: I selected this as the richest New Testament scripture on generosity. 115 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 1: I think if you want to look ultimately to the 116 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,919 Speaker 1: cross where God gave his son, it is the ultimate 117 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: demonstration of generosity, certainly, but if you want to find 118 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,799 Speaker 1: a teaching on generosity, and not just for our offering 119 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: that we're receiving, but just for the way you live 120 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: your life, I believe that Second Corinthians nine gives us 121 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: a template. So go ahead and turn there, or click there, 122 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 1: or just look at the screen. Who cares you know? 123 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: Either way, I want you to get this word in 124 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: you and ask the person next to you one more time, 125 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: say are you available? Available? Is that how you ask 126 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: people on a date too? Ask them with a clear voice, 127 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: say are you available? And so a lot of times 128 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: while we're trying to get more of God in our life, 129 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: it's like God is trying to get more of us. 130 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: Are you available? Second Corinthians nine, verse six. It's been 131 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: an awkward letter that Paul has written to the Corinthian 132 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: Church because they are so carnal that when they come 133 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: for communion, some of them are getting drunk and turning 134 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: up at the communion table. And that's a really difficult 135 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: pastoral situation. That's why we pass out the grape juice 136 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: in the little cups, just to make sure. And it's 137 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: not only that, but there's a strained relationship as fathers 138 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: and children often go through, between Paul and the church 139 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: that he started, and he's having to, in the midst 140 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: of all of this tension and conflict, prepare them to 141 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: give an offering. And the offering is specifically for the 142 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: believers in Jerusalem, the believers in Jerusalem who are spiritually 143 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: rich and physically poor. Now, the reason I said it 144 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: like that is because you can have it the other 145 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: way around. You can be very, very rich financially and 146 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: be spiritually poor. Some of you are like, well, I'd 147 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,680 Speaker 1: like to try it, you know what I'm saying. That 148 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: sounds good, but he has a challenging task in order 149 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: to get this church Corinth, these gentile believers to give 150 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: to the Jewish Church, the church in Jerusalem. And the 151 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: reason he thinks it's appropriate is because the faith began 152 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 1: within the Jewish tradition, and then the Christian Church that 153 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:18,359 Speaker 1: is in Jerusalem, they're undergoing a severe trial, not only persecution, 154 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 1: but famine. Now, Paul spent about five years of his 155 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: life preparing this offering, so it's a big deal to him. 156 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: It's a big deal to him. And this is what 157 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: you can'tet people to understand. Some things that you just 158 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: walk into are a big deal to somebody sitting next 159 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: to you. Like, make some noise if this church is 160 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: a big deal to you, Like if this is meaningful 161 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 1: to you, Like if you're not just watching the lights 162 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: in the show and hoping they play reckless love. But 163 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: this is like really your church where God meets with 164 00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: you and his presence is important and you love to 165 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,400 Speaker 1: gather together and you are excited about the work of God. 166 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: If you can't help us shout, then go ahead and 167 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: shout and scare your neighbor. They can get heir plugs 168 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: next week If this is a big deal to you, 169 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: shout Gaston, shout Lake Norman, shout all the way from Kenya. 170 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: If this church is a blessing to you, it's a 171 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 1: big deal. So for Paul, this offering is so important 172 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: that he's sending some delegates to make sure that the 173 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: Corinthian Church doesn't screw this up like they've been screwing 174 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:31,839 Speaker 1: everything else up. But he's smart, right, he knows that 175 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: in order to get people sometimes to live up to 176 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 1: their potential, they need a little competition. And in Second 177 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 1: Corinthians chapter eight, he moves into this comparison about the 178 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: Macedonian Church who have already contributed to the offering, even 179 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: though they had less money than the Corinthians. And then 180 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: he does this move where he says, and I know 181 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:58,439 Speaker 1: if they did it, you're gonna do it. And as 182 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 1: he gets into this, he gives a practical illustration. And 183 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: that's what I want to share with you now. The 184 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: title of this message for installment one of available is 185 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: called Kneaders and Feeders. Kneaders and feeders, and we're going 186 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: to locate ourselves in this text. In Second Corinthians, chapter nine, today, 187 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,839 Speaker 1: verse six, we begin, Remember he says, whoever so sparingly 188 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: will also reap sparingly. And see, you don't even have 189 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: to believe in Moses, Abraham and Jesus to say amen 190 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: to that. This is a principle. He says. You know, 191 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: like we would say, you get out of it what 192 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: you put into it. And that's why I'm always interested 193 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 1: when someone says, like, well, I went to the church, 194 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,440 Speaker 1: but I didn't get anything out of it. I would 195 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: always ask the question, what did you put into it? 196 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: Because the last time I went to the bank and 197 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: ask them for more money than I put in the 198 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 1: bank account, it didn't work. And you know, the last 199 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 1: time I went to church and I went with a 200 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: bad attitude and didn't lift my hands because nobody's going 201 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,439 Speaker 1: to manipulate me and worshiping, I just worship. When I 202 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: go in nature with God, I like dear, it didn't work. 203 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: So he says, whoever thos generously will reap generously. Each 204 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: man should give, each man should give, each man should give, 205 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: each man should give. I'm stuck on that part because 206 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: I think some people make excuses. But each man should give. 207 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: Watch this what he has decided in his heart to give, 208 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 1: not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 209 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: And see, I get that right, right? Because God has 210 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: no needs. The definition of God suggests that he is 211 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: self sufficient, and by extension, we are not. And yet, 212 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: have you ever had somebody do something for you that 213 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: was nice, but the way that they did it made 214 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: you wish that they didn't do it? Holly told me 215 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:03,839 Speaker 1: that one time, early in our marriage. Two things happened 216 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: early in our marriage. I got fat. I gained fifty 217 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: pounds without exercise. I did all that by diet alone. 218 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: I gained fifty pounds off of fried Rice Fetichini Alfreda. 219 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: And I had a realization. You know what I did. 220 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: I was walking by the mirror with my shirt off, 221 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: and I had a revelation moment. I jumped up and 222 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: everything was still shaking, like thirty seconds later, and I realized, 223 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: if I don't get some disciplines, I'm gonna get I 224 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: can get fat being married to this woman, You know, 225 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: you can get fat. Coming to a church like Elevation, 226 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: you can get fat because these singers are so good 227 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 1: and these musicians are so good and the people, Oh 228 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: did you see the creators win when you walked in, 229 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 1: How happy they look. And they've been here since six o'clock. 230 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: Did you see how happy they were to see you? 231 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: Were they happy? I'm just checking. I went through a 232 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 1: different door. But see, when I was growing up in church, right, 233 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: the church I grew up in was small, and then 234 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: the church that I learned to do ministry and was small. 235 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: It would only have one hundred people in it. And 236 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 1: what that meant was that if you missed church. When 237 00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: Pastor Mickey used to go up and he'd be turning 238 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: to a scripture, he turned to the scripture. While he 239 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 1: was turning, he had this little notepad, little memo book, 240 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: and he'd be writing something down in the pad. And 241 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: I thought for the longest time that he was writing scriptures, 242 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: that God was giving him, that God was speaking to 243 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: him when he took the pulpit. Then one day asked him, 244 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 1: He's like, no, that's my seating chart. Because on the 245 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: way home, if you missed church at Santis Circle Baptist Mission, 246 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 1: you would get a call from Pastor Mickey White's bag phone. 247 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: Zach Morris would call you on the way home from 248 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: church talking about I missed you today, big boy. You 249 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: weren't there on the third row, second seat in like 250 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: you always are. Now I'm gonna see you back next 251 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: to me. I don't care if you were throwing up, 252 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: wear a surgical mask and come to church. He had 253 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: no time for it. We need you here. But in 254 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: a church like this you can begin to feel like 255 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: you are not needed and you are not known. And 256 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: in one sense, you were right. God doesn't need you. 257 00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: God doesn't need me. If I drop this mic, God'll 258 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: put a gift to preaching somebody else and they'll pick 259 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: it up and preach it better. That sets me free, 260 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: by the way, because then I can understand that God 261 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: loves a cheerful giver. And one day Holly cooked for me. 262 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: You know, I'm fifty pounds heavier then when she married me, 263 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 1: and I was over there washing the dishes, and I 264 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: was so proud. I was washing the dishes, and I 265 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: started whistling, you know, to get her attention so she 266 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:03,480 Speaker 1: could see I was washing the dishes. And after about 267 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: a little you know, three little statements that I made 268 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: about I don't mind washing the dishes, something I enjoyed 269 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: doing to serve my wife as Christ loved the church, 270 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: you know' and a big deal of it. She said, 271 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 1: I would rather you not do it if I have 272 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: to hear this much about it. Yeah, asked somebody. They 273 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: did something for you, but they made it look so 274 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: hard while they were doing it. You know, God, I 275 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: thought about calling this message. God doesn't want it. If 276 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: we come to God with an attitude like wow, God 277 00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: is so lucky to have us. If we think that 278 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: bringing our presence into the presence of God is a 279 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: favor to him, we probably read the book backwards. See, 280 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 1: it is not my presence that is honored. It is 281 00:16:55,920 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: God's presence that is invaluable. And I know in a 282 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 1: time you know, where we worship celebrities, we don't worship 283 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: the Creator. We worship the gifts that he gave people 284 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 1: that he created. And that's messed up because See, God 285 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: was God before a celebrity shouted him out. God was God. 286 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: God doesn't need a celebrity to make him cool for 287 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 1: him to be God. God sits on a throne. God 288 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:25,959 Speaker 1: feels heaven and earth. God is the Ancient of days. 289 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: God is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth. 290 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: God is the Great I Am. God is the breath 291 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 1: of life. God is el Shadai. God is hello. He 292 00:17:37,560 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: doesn't need anything, and if he needs it, he'll speak 293 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,919 Speaker 1: it because his word is power. Somebody shout, as you know, 294 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: you'll serve a God who is able to supply your neees. 295 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: So Paul says, I want to give you the privilege 296 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:06,360 Speaker 1: to give to something bigger than you. And remember this, 297 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: If you so sparingly, you reap sparingly. If you so generously, 298 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: you reap generously. And verse eight is something that I 299 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: want you to internalize and really let it become a 300 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: reflection in your heart. Do you believe what verse eight says? 301 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:32,239 Speaker 1: And God is able? All right? Take that much? Now 302 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: add this to make all grace abound to you. Please 303 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:45,880 Speaker 1: forgive me for truncating this. I could spend all five 304 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 1: weeks on that part of that verse and still not 305 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: do it justice, because, like everything about that verse is 306 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: a challenge for me to believe. And God is able 307 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: to make all grace abound to you. A lot of 308 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: times I believe that God's grace is available to others, 309 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 1: But do you believe that God is able to make 310 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: all grace abound to you? And he goes further. He says, 311 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: God is able to make all grace abound to you, 312 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: so that in all things, at all times, having all 313 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: that you need, you will abound in every good work. 314 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 1: As it is written, he has scattered abroad his gifts 315 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 1: to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. Now he who 316 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 1: supplies seed to the sower and is about to get 317 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: good because Paul is about to let us in on 318 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: a principle that explains why some of us are struggling 319 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: with discouragement. And even though we pray about it, we 320 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: don't seem to receive what we need from the Lord. Okay, 321 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: so let's slow down and read this. Now, he who 322 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: supplies what talk to me, he who supplies seed to 323 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 1: the sower and bread for food, will also supply and 324 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,440 Speaker 1: increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest 325 00:20:06,840 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: of your righteousness. What that verse means is not that 326 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 1: God will just give you a harvest because you asked 327 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: for it. What the verse says is that God supplies 328 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: seed to the sower. And the question is not is 329 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: God able? The question is are you a sower? Or 330 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: have you allowed yourself to be lulled into a complacent, 331 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: consumeristic Christianity that bears more resemblance to a kid making 332 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 1: their Christmas list than a Christian who is serving Jesus Christ. 333 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 1: You'll like this message. I'm honestly shocked. I'm honestly shocked 334 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: because a lot of people do get stuck at the 335 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: level of what I need. You know, we get stuck. 336 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: When lady last night I was preaching, and she said, 337 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: we get stuck in me mode, and it's just you know, God, 338 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: bless me, help me, encourage me. And so while you're 339 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: praying about those needs, they're not selfish. It's fine for 340 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: you to bring those things before God. But the way 341 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,159 Speaker 1: He will respond to your need is to give you 342 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:14,360 Speaker 1: a seed. And that's confusing to us because we want 343 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: God to give us a harvest. But God does not 344 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: respond to our needs with a harvest. He responds to 345 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: our need with a seed. So I have found it 346 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: to be true. I wonder about you that when I 347 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 1: found myself in need, the best thing for me to 348 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,639 Speaker 1: do is to get out of me mode and to 349 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: get into so mode, sow so mode. I know this 350 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: is not an agricultural society, but if it were, we 351 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: could see that seeding or sowing is a form of 352 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: investment and it is a process. How many times have 353 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: I been discouraged and weary in my own soul, only 354 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: to find that when I took five minutes to be 355 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 1: a blessing to someone else, when I sowed what God 356 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: gave me, it became what I needed. This is difficult 357 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 1: because when you are in a season of need in 358 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: your own life, the last thing you want to do 359 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:13,359 Speaker 1: is to sew into something else. Am I right about it? 360 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,199 Speaker 1: When you are out of energy, the last thing that 361 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 1: you want to think about is anything other than you. 362 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: But the only way for you to receive what you 363 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,439 Speaker 1: need is to give what you have. Cannot prove it 364 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 1: from Jesus. Give and it will be given to you. 365 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 1: That's not a financial scripture, that's a scripture about anything. 366 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: If you give what you have, God will give to 367 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: you what was already inside of you waiting to be 368 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: sown in something that is bigger than you. And God 369 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: helped me for all the times that I got stuck 370 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: in me mode. Bless me, me, me, me, me, me 371 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 1: me me. What about do re fa so latino? No 372 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: just me me me, me, me me me, none of 373 00:22:56,960 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 1: the other ones? Do re mi fa so dorat me, 374 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:03,760 Speaker 1: fa so dorat me? Do play scale? Keep play scale? 375 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:08,200 Speaker 1: Real quick. Uh do rey me do re me fa 376 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: so okay, do it again, doray me fa so lati 377 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 1: do agay doory again. Doray me me me me me 378 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: me me me me me me me me me me 379 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: me me me me me fa so me so me 380 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 1: so me so. God said, I'm switching you from me 381 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: so me so because you have been so so good 382 00:23:54,760 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: to me so me so. You saved me, so, you 383 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: filled me so, you bless me so, you gave me life. 384 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: So come on, I'm coming out of memo you made 385 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 1: away so so, he says. He says, this is good, 386 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,280 Speaker 1: isn't it? This is rich, This is challenging, this is 387 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: difficult because God responds to your need with a bigger need, 388 00:24:40,280 --> 00:24:44,240 Speaker 1: all right. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew chapter fourteen. 389 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 1: He's like, let's go away and get some rest. And 390 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: they're like, oh good, I need some me time. Where 391 00:24:51,119 --> 00:24:52,960 Speaker 1: is it again? I messed it up. I need some 392 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 1: Uh no, that's so me. I need some me time, 393 00:24:57,080 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: all right. So they're gonna get some me time with Jesus. 394 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 1: John the Bapp's just been behead. It is a rough time. 395 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: Here is going crazy cutting heads off, and now the 396 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: disciples need some rest. She's like, let's go and rest. 397 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:10,680 Speaker 1: When they get there, how many you'll know this Bible story, 398 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 1: they're like, oh, good man, we need it, we really 399 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: need it. This is going to be really helpful. Jesus, Wow, 400 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: what wisdom you have because you know you know what 401 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: we need. You hear our needs. Lord. So they get 402 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: there and they need rest, right, and guess what they 403 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: run into when they get there, needy people. So now 404 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,960 Speaker 1: we got the disciples who need rest and the people 405 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:44,640 Speaker 1: who need healing, and Jesus, who has no need, as 406 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,359 Speaker 1: the go between. But watch what he's about to do. 407 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 1: He's about to meet the disciples need with the needs 408 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: of the people, and he does it by feeding their faith. 409 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: Now here's the shift. If you can receive it, this 410 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,199 Speaker 1: will be life changing because he is about to take 411 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:05,720 Speaker 1: them from neededers to feeders. He's about to take them 412 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:14,640 Speaker 1: from me to so me to sew. And the disciples 413 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,639 Speaker 1: turn to Jesus after he heals like number nine hundred 414 00:26:17,680 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: and fifty three, there's five thousand men, women, and children. 415 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: It says that Jesus was healing everybody who needed healing. 416 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: Nothing was too small, nothing was too big, nothing was intimidating. 417 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: Nothing was inconsequential. And after he gets done teaching and 418 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: healing and meeting every need, the disciples look at verse 419 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: fifteen as evening approached, said to him, this is a 420 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:45,199 Speaker 1: remote place and it's already getting late, and so you 421 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,280 Speaker 1: need to send the crowds away so they can go 422 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: to the villages and buy themselves some food. See how 423 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,000 Speaker 1: spiritual that sounds on the surface, Jesus, we are concerned 424 00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 1: about these precious sheep for which you came. The truth 425 00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 1: of it is, Peter was hungry. They didn't get to 426 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: eat either. They it wasn't like the disciples were in 427 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: a place of plenty. And so sometimes when you are 428 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: in a state of great need, you miss opportunities because 429 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: you are too hungry and weak to see the potential 430 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 1: to fulfill the need. Y'all, don't look at me like 431 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: I'm crazy. I'm preaching good because we get in situations where, like, 432 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 1: you know, Jesus is like, you know what would be 433 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: cool if we fed them? And the disciples are like, 434 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: you know what would have been cool if you would 435 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: have told us ahead of times so we could have 436 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: hired a catering company. Jesus is like no, I'm door Dash, 437 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:45,600 Speaker 1: Uber Eats, and a catering company all rolled into one. 438 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: I am the Christ, the son of the Lop. I 439 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 1: am the bread of life. What't you talking about? You 440 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: don't have any bread. I am bread, I am presents, 441 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,200 Speaker 1: I am provision, I am your shepherd. I am enough. 442 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:59,200 Speaker 1: So anyway, they didn't know that yet, and Jesus needed 443 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: to show them who he was, so he replied in 444 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 1: verse sixteen. They sixteen, Yeah, they do not need to 445 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 1: go away. You give them something to eat. Now. You 446 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: will never know what you really have until God shows 447 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 1: you a need that is bigger than you. And you 448 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: will never know that God is able until he puts 449 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 1: you in a situation where you are not. So he 450 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,199 Speaker 1: has orchestrated this opportunity. And I don't know what in 451 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: your life is like that today. If I could guess, 452 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 1: I would say that for some of us it is 453 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: a physical need, and for others it occupies a different 454 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:46,400 Speaker 1: category of real estate. In our life, it often takes 455 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: the shape of a relational need, or a lot of 456 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 1: times in my life is just not knowing what I 457 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 1: need to do and wave at me. If you've got 458 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,920 Speaker 1: a situation right in front of you right now where 459 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: the need seems to be more than the supply, right, 460 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: I'm praying. I'm praying for the people who didn't raise 461 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: their hands because they have no place for God to 462 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: show up. Raise your hand again. If you've got a 463 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,719 Speaker 1: situation where the need seems to be greater than the supply, 464 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: here's what's about to happen. You are about you are 465 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: about to see yourself going from needer to feeder. We 466 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: have always taught the text in Matthew chapter fourteen that 467 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: Jesus fed the multitudes. That's not exactly accurate. If you 468 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: read the text, Jesus told the disciples they do not 469 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:39,960 Speaker 1: need to go away. You give them something to eat. 470 00:29:40,680 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 1: What happens next is one of the greatest revelations that 471 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,719 Speaker 1: you can ever receive, because when they mentioned their limited supply, 472 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: we have here only five loaves and to fish, that 473 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 1: was their answer. That was what was available to them. 474 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:58,680 Speaker 1: But God is able, But we do not have enough. 475 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 1: But God is a And see, this is when you 476 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:05,400 Speaker 1: get the opportunity to believe tewod Corinthians chapter nine, that 477 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: God is able when you are in a situation where 478 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: you are not able. So this thing came alive for me. 479 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: I always thought that Jesus fed the five thousand, but 480 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: he didn't watch what he did. He enabled the disciples 481 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,000 Speaker 1: to feed the five thousand. So God said, I am 482 00:30:22,040 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: putting you in a season where I'm going to give 483 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 1: you what you need. But it is not just for you. 484 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 1: It is not just for you to consume. It is 485 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:33,160 Speaker 1: not just for you to have a good feeling. It 486 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:35,440 Speaker 1: is not just for you to get a goosebump. It 487 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: is for you to be a feeder. Because I put 488 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 1: you in the earth for my glory, and I gave 489 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: you gifts for a purpose, and I gave you an 490 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:47,400 Speaker 1: assignment for the sake of my great name. And your 491 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 1: supply is in your assignment. And when you bring me 492 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,640 Speaker 1: what little bit you have and put it in my 493 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:58,040 Speaker 1: capable hands, I know no need. For my hand created 494 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 1: the earth, and my works estates the world. And I 495 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: am God over the galaxies, and I am God of 496 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:07,520 Speaker 1: time and space, and I am God before you got here, 497 00:31:07,800 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: and I will be God when you're gone. And I 498 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: cannot be impeached, and I never will step down because 499 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 1: I see your need and I am your supply. And 500 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 1: he said in verse eighteen, bring them here to me, 501 00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:31,080 Speaker 1: It's not are you able? It's are you available? Are 502 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: you does he gives seed to the sower? Are you 503 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:41,120 Speaker 1: a sower? I don't just mean money. Please stop thinking 504 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: about this as a money thing. I know that that's 505 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: how people use it, but that's not what the Bible means. 506 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 1: Paul is using this opportunity to help them to see 507 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:57,120 Speaker 1: that in God's dictionary, sacrifice looks a lot different than 508 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 1: in our dictionary. Was thinking of a person who's been 509 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: in the church with us, and I would say their 510 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:06,920 Speaker 1: name because they're actually in this worship experience. But they 511 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: don't like a lot of you know, trumpet blowing stuff. 512 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 1: I'm washing the dishes. They're not like that. They don't care, 513 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:16,800 Speaker 1: They don't they don't want to be known. They just 514 00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:19,920 Speaker 1: want to sew. But I wrote them a letter the 515 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:22,320 Speaker 1: other day and I had to start it over because 516 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: I wrote down something, thank you for all the sacrifices 517 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 1: that you've made to make this church possible. Because here's 518 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:30,880 Speaker 1: the deal. People can come to this church and never 519 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:36,720 Speaker 1: give anything, and we still feed them. That's our job. 520 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:43,640 Speaker 1: That's my job. It's our job. If you pull up 521 00:32:43,640 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 1: the table to the table, go back for seconds, burp 522 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: and walk off. We're still going to feed you next week. 523 00:32:51,640 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: If you watch the sermon and then click off, or 524 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 1: you know, click over to something else, we'll still feed 525 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 1: you every week. Every week we'll be here. That's not 526 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: the question. Do you really want to spend the rest 527 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:10,120 Speaker 1: of your life as a needer and not see what 528 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,000 Speaker 1: God could do through you if you brought him what 529 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: you have to feed others, because it will never be 530 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: enough when you bring it to him, It'll start as 531 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 1: a seed. And that's the contrast seed and sacrifice. So 532 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:25,479 Speaker 1: when I was writing the note, I said, thank you 533 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 1: for your sacrifices, and then I remembered one time I 534 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 1: told them that, and they said back to me, it's 535 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:36,080 Speaker 1: not a sacrifice. After all God has done for us, 536 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:41,440 Speaker 1: it's not a sacrifice. That really stuck with me. How 537 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: they didn't see it as a sacrifice. Paul tells the church. 538 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:49,479 Speaker 1: He goes, I want you to have the opportunity to 539 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 1: give to something bigger than you, to sew. He doesn't 540 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 1: ever use the word sacrifice. He says, I want you 541 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 1: to sew. See sacrifice means you give something and it 542 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 1: goes away. So means you give something and it gets bigger. 543 00:34:14,200 --> 00:34:18,439 Speaker 1: They said, it's not a sacrifice, it's a seed. When 544 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:21,840 Speaker 1: God gave his son as a sacrifice, Jesus was a seed. 545 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:26,640 Speaker 1: God sold Jesus as the first born among many brethren 546 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,279 Speaker 1: so that we could become the children of God. It's 547 00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: not a sacrifice. God doesn't even want it when we 548 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:37,840 Speaker 1: think it is some sacrifice. He is God, and so 549 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 1: to give to him is not a sacrifice. It's a privilege. 550 00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 1: Y'all look at me for a minute. You remember how 551 00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:54,800 Speaker 1: I told you that this is the best New Testament 552 00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:58,480 Speaker 1: scripture for teaching generosity. Let me give you the picture 553 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:03,960 Speaker 1: of it from the Old Testamon. When God called Abraham. 554 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 1: You've heard of Abraham before, right, he's called the father 555 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:10,480 Speaker 1: of faith. When God called him, he said, I'm going 556 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:13,719 Speaker 1: to give you a son. And it took maybe as 557 00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:16,400 Speaker 1: many as twenty five years. The timeline is unclear, but 558 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:20,040 Speaker 1: it took a period of decades for that promise to 559 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:23,800 Speaker 1: become a reality to where Abraham had a son named Isaac, 560 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:26,279 Speaker 1: and he was the child of the promise. And God 561 00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: said I'm going to bless the earth through Isaac. And 562 00:35:28,880 --> 00:35:31,279 Speaker 1: Abraham was too old to have kids, and they didn't 563 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 1: have pharmaceuticals to help with stuff like that. In that day, 564 00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to leave that alone. You can talk to 565 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:39,680 Speaker 1: your parents. But what happened in Abraham's case was God 566 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 1: did something supernaturally at the appointed time. And then the 567 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:48,680 Speaker 1: part that I've always struggled with because I have three kids. 568 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:53,839 Speaker 1: Abby is eight, Grandma's twelve, Elijah is fourteen, and by 569 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:57,520 Speaker 1: this point Isaac was a teenager. And God told him 570 00:35:57,560 --> 00:36:00,920 Speaker 1: one day, I want you to take Isaac and sacrifice 571 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:05,160 Speaker 1: him to me. And when Abraham got up the mountain 572 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 1: and he was ready to sacrifice Isaac, God got his 573 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 1: attention at the last moment and showed him that there 574 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:14,759 Speaker 1: was a ram in the bush and God didn't want 575 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:17,960 Speaker 1: him to lay a hand on his son. And so 576 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:21,719 Speaker 1: in that moment it must have been confusing to Abraham 577 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:24,480 Speaker 1: that he thought God was calling him to sacrifice what 578 00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:27,640 Speaker 1: God gave him. But really, what we see in the 579 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 1: pattern of God is that God never really calls us 580 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:35,040 Speaker 1: to sacrifice anything, and that anything that we give to 581 00:36:35,120 --> 00:36:40,080 Speaker 1: Him is not sacrificed, it is sown. God had already 582 00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:43,279 Speaker 1: made a provision for Abraham to obey him, and when 583 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:45,560 Speaker 1: he did it, when he listened to the voice of 584 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:50,480 Speaker 1: the Lord when he made himself available to God. The 585 00:36:50,520 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 1: Bible says in Genesis twenty two, verse fifteen, that the 586 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 1: Angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham a second time 587 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:01,720 Speaker 1: out of heaven. The Angel said, go to verse sixteen. 588 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:06,680 Speaker 1: Please by myself, I have sworn because you have done 589 00:37:06,680 --> 00:37:12,800 Speaker 1: this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son. See, 590 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 1: Abraham was willing to let something go that God gave 591 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:20,680 Speaker 1: him to begin with. There's no such thing as a sacrifice, 592 00:37:21,360 --> 00:37:25,879 Speaker 1: because everything I have came from God. If I loan 593 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,440 Speaker 1: you my car and you give it back, you didn't 594 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:33,080 Speaker 1: give me anything. You returned to me what was already mine. 595 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:37,120 Speaker 1: Who gave you that gift, who gave you that breath, 596 00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:41,040 Speaker 1: who gave you that opportunity, who gave you this moment, 597 00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:44,960 Speaker 1: who gave you those children, who gave you that promise, 598 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:49,960 Speaker 1: who gave you that strength. It's not a sacrifice, But 599 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:53,359 Speaker 1: God said, because I've seen your heart, because you didn't 600 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:56,279 Speaker 1: think it was yours, because you offered it back to me, 601 00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:00,200 Speaker 1: Here's what I'm going to do. Blessing. I will bless you, 602 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:05,280 Speaker 1: and multiplying. I will multiply your descendants as the stars 603 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:08,520 Speaker 1: of heaven and as the sandwich is on the seashore, 604 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:12,280 Speaker 1: and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 605 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:16,239 Speaker 1: What is he saying? God will multiply whatever you are 606 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 1: willing to sacrifice. God is a giver. God is a 607 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:23,920 Speaker 1: good God. God is a generous God. God is abundant. God. 608 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:27,000 Speaker 1: God is able to make all grace abound to you, 609 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:31,080 Speaker 1: so that in all things, at all times, you will 610 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:35,040 Speaker 1: have all that you need to do everything He's called 611 00:38:35,040 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 1: you to do. This is a moment for you to decide. 612 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:43,240 Speaker 1: Will you be like the disciples who were so focused 613 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 1: on their own need that they didn't realize that God 614 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:48,719 Speaker 1: had called them to feed the people that were right 615 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,759 Speaker 1: in front of them. And I think sometimes we have 616 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:56,120 Speaker 1: to commission ourselves as Christians to be able to say, God, 617 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:58,840 Speaker 1: not only do I need you to do something for me, 618 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 1: I want you to do something through me, through me, 619 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,240 Speaker 1: through me. When's the last time we stopped and asked 620 00:39:08,239 --> 00:39:12,719 Speaker 1: God to do something through us? I know we ask 621 00:39:12,760 --> 00:39:15,719 Speaker 1: Him to do stuff for us all the time. What 622 00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:18,240 Speaker 1: about that thing we were praying about this morning, When's 623 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:21,040 Speaker 1: the last time we stopped, holly and said, God, what 624 00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:23,799 Speaker 1: do you want to do through us? Maybe? It's not 625 00:39:23,840 --> 00:39:27,040 Speaker 1: about us. Maybe it's not about us getting what we 626 00:39:27,160 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 1: need to eat. Maybe God brought you to church today 627 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:36,560 Speaker 1: to encourage somebody else. And if this preaching is not popular, 628 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:40,440 Speaker 1: that makes it even more important because the more we 629 00:39:40,480 --> 00:39:44,720 Speaker 1: stay focused in cultural ideas and norms of consumer based Christianity, 630 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:49,320 Speaker 1: the world starves. The world starves for truth, the world 631 00:39:49,400 --> 00:39:52,759 Speaker 1: starves for hope, the world starves for light. And we 632 00:39:53,280 --> 00:39:56,160 Speaker 1: have the bread. And so I'm asking you a question. 633 00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:59,720 Speaker 1: Are you available? Do you believe that God is able? 634 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:02,719 Speaker 1: Do you believe that He is your source? Are you 635 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:06,120 Speaker 1: a channel? Are you a vessel? Are you an instrument? 636 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:14,840 Speaker 1: Are you willing? Are you available? Stand up at every location. 637 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:17,880 Speaker 1: I want you to take a posture of prayer. No 638 00:40:17,880 --> 00:40:20,920 Speaker 1: one leaving, I want you to take a posture of prayer. 639 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:29,280 Speaker 1: Team you can come. He said that God is able. 640 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:32,399 Speaker 1: That's not the question to make all grace abound, that's 641 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 1: not in doubt. Are you available? Well, I only got 642 00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:40,440 Speaker 1: five loaves and two fish. You know I'm not one 643 00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:43,400 Speaker 1: of these amazing people. No, no, no, no, it's not 644 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:50,319 Speaker 1: are you able? It's are you available? Are you? Are 645 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:56,080 Speaker 1: you a neaeder or a feeder? The real truth is 646 00:40:56,120 --> 00:41:00,520 Speaker 1: you're both, and the way God meets your needs is 647 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:05,000 Speaker 1: through you meeting the needs of others. So by your head, 648 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:13,080 Speaker 1: close your eyes. The scripture says that if we will 649 00:41:13,080 --> 00:41:18,799 Speaker 1: make ourselves living sacrifices and offer ourselves to God, we 650 00:41:18,840 --> 00:41:21,080 Speaker 1: will be able to test and approve what His will 651 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:27,000 Speaker 1: is is good, perfect pleasing will. Lord, You brought us 652 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 1: together today by the thousands, across multiple backgrounds. You brought 653 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:38,080 Speaker 1: us together not only to receive from you, but to 654 00:41:38,120 --> 00:41:40,880 Speaker 1: supply us with seeds so that we could give. And 655 00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:44,160 Speaker 1: we miss that sometimes, and we confess it. We miss 656 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 1: sometimes that everything you give us is not for us. 657 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:52,080 Speaker 1: But we just take this moment to acknowledge the great 658 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:55,839 Speaker 1: gifts that you have given us. Forgive us for living 659 00:41:55,880 --> 00:41:59,320 Speaker 1: in me mode. Forgive me for living in me mode. 660 00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:02,759 Speaker 1: What I need, what I want. God, I prayed that 661 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:05,919 Speaker 1: you would shift our hearts and that we would offer 662 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:10,040 Speaker 1: all that we are and all that we have. We're 663 00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:16,120 Speaker 1: available to you in Jesus' name. Amen, Thank you for 664 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:18,759 Speaker 1: joining us. Special thanks to those of you who give 665 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:21,719 Speaker 1: generously to this ministry. Is because of you that this 666 00:42:21,840 --> 00:42:24,680 Speaker 1: ministry is possible. You can click the link in the 667 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:29,080 Speaker 1: description to give now or visit Elevationchurch dot org slash 668 00:42:29,120 --> 00:42:32,440 Speaker 1: podcast for more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, 669 00:42:32,719 --> 00:42:35,440 Speaker 1: you can subscribe. You can share it with your friends. 670 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:38,000 Speaker 1: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 671 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:40,160 Speaker 1: share it on your social stories and tag us at 672 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:47,799 Speaker 1: Elevation Church. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.